Study load (overload and underload)

To complete a course, you need to pass enough units to meet a set number of credit points. We measure your enrolment load in credit points per academic year.

The standard undergraduate study load per year is 48 credit points (24 credit points per semester).

Full-time and part-time

An Equivalent Full-Time Student Load (EFTSL) is 48 credit points. Most units run for a semester and have a value of six credit points (0.125 EFTSL).

Per academic year:

a full-time study load is between 36 and 48 credit points

a part-time study load is less than 36 credit points (less than 0.75 EFTSL).

Time limits to complete a course

You must complete your course within a set time limit, based on a formula using the course duration. Your course duration is in Find a course. Calculation of the maximum time allowed to complete a course is as follows:

Varying your course durationYou can take approved intermission as long as you still complete your course within the maximum time limit. Check with your faculty before you choose to study part-time.

Domestic or international students not on a student visa in Australia, can apply to their managing faculty to take parental or primary carer's leave. If approved, this leave does not count towards the maximum time limit to complete a coursework course.

Underloading

Domestic students

Domestic students can usually choose to study part-time. If your enrolment drops below 18 credit points per semester, you may not be eligible for government payments such as Youth Allowance, Austudy or public transport concessions. The Web Enrolment System may force you to enrol for the entire academic year, and in more credit points than you were planning to study. If this happens and you believe this requirement doesn't apply to you, contact your faculty for advice.

International students

If you're on a student visa you must complete your course in the time stated on your Confirmation of Enrolment (COE). To do this, you need to enrol in a full-time study load (24 credit points per semester). The Web Enrolment System (WES) will not allow you to submit your enrolment unless you enrol in enough units to meet your approved study load requirement.

You need to apply for approval to underload under these circumstances:

Overloading

Overloading is to enrol in more than the standard number of units in each year. It is usually limited to students who have:

completed 48 credit points in one calendar year

achieved a credit average or higher in the previous year.

Exceptions may apply to high achieving students in approved programs. Some courses may not allow acceleration. This may be due to professional accreditation and/or clinical requirements. The faculties below have more information:

Due date When applying to overload, you should submit your application as early as possible. The deadline is no later than a week before the first of the semester that you wish to overload. Your faculty will notify you of the outcome within five working days.